IMD Unveils Mobile App For Weather Updates

Bangalore: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Tuesday launched a mobile application 'Indian-Weather' for Android-based Smartphones and Tabs to provide latest weather information to users. The service was launched by Science and Technology Minister S. Jaipal Reddy on IMD's 138th Foundation Day.

The application can be freely downloaded through Google Play available on the home screen of Android-based Smartphones and Tabs. Reddy asked IMD to use information technology tools and social networks extensively for smart information dissemination.

"I would urge IMD to make further efforts for more precise prediction, particularly for severe weather phenomenon. We should also provide location and user specific forecast in different time scales," he said.

Speaking about the application, Rahul Saxena, an IMD scientist in charge of the project, said: "IMD wants to tap the reach of Smartphones to provide the latest weather information and other value added services." The location specific weather forecast would be available to the public at the touch of an icon.

With this service, IMD's forecast of major cities of the country around four metros for next four days along with updated current weather observations would be available to the millions of mobile users across the country in the initial phase.

"During next 8-10 months, we intend not only to expand the domain of the products by including weather bulletins and alerts for significant events, agromet advisories and weather related health updates to the public on the smart phones but also for other phones across platforms," he said.

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